Tendulkar Honored with Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award; Bumrah, Mandhana, and Others Shine at BCCI Awards

Mumbai, Feb 01, 2025 — In a star-studded awards ceremony held in Mumbai on Saturday, cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar was bestowed with the prestigious Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by the BCCI. The honor comes as a fitting tribute to Tendulkar’s extraordinary 24-year international career, during which he amassed 34,357 international runs and shattered records with 100 international centuries, including an awe-inspiring feat of scoring 100 tons in international cricket.

The BCCI released a statement describing Tendulkar’s contribution as transformative, stating, “The Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledged the cricket legend’s extraordinary 24-year international career where through personal milestones and national triumphs, through challenges and victories, he carried not just his bat but the hopes of an entire nation. It recognised not just a cricketer, but a phenomenon who transformed Indian cricket into a global powerhouse.”

The ceremony, which celebrated the achievements of current stars as well as cricketing icons, also saw several outstanding performances recognized:

• Jasprit Bumrah: The premier pace spearhead and recently named ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year (2024) was honored with the Polly Umrigar Award for the best international cricketer (Men) for the third time. Bumrah, currently the No.1 ranked bowler in Test cricket, impressed by claiming 71 wickets in 13 Tests in 2024 and played a pivotal role in India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign.
• Smriti Mandhana: The vice-captain of the India women’s team received the Best International Cricketer award (Women) for the fourth time. Mandhana showcased her prowess by scoring 747 runs in ODIs and 763 runs in T20Is in 2024, including a career-best 149 in a Test match against South Africa held in Chennai.
• Emerging Talents: Sarfaraz Khan and Asha Sobhana were recognized for their impressive debuts, winning the awards for the best international debut for Men and Women respectively, signaling a promising future for Indian cricket.

Additionally, former all-rounder R. Ashwin, who retired following the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, was specially felicitated with a unique award from the BCCI, acknowledging his significant contributions to the game.

The awards ceremony not only celebrated individual brilliance but also highlighted the collective growth of Indian cricket on the international stage. With veterans like Tendulkar setting benchmarks and current stars like Bumrah and Mandhana carving out new legacies, Indian cricket continues to consolidate its position as a global powerhouse.

As the nation looks back on the illustrious career of Sachin Tendulkar and forward to the bright future of its emerging talents, the BCCI awards ceremony served as a reminder of the passion, perseverance, and unparalleled excellence that define Indian cricket.